Dear Friends,
As we continue our series, Serve It Up, this week we will be looking at serving together. When we serve together we truly see Gods work.
Several weeks ago, we just finished Vacation Bible School. Over 90 volunteers helped share Jesus with children, youth, and adults. Tomorrow we begin Kid’s Camp where over 60 youth and adults will share the love of Jesus with over 80 kids. During our morning worship experience, we will be looking at 1 Corinthians 12.
Please read it sometime before Sunday. You will also hear from individuals in our congregation who serve along with others. During small group time, we will be looking at how God blesses us with spiritual gifts.
Remember to memorize and meditate on Mark 10:45.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.
See you on Sunday.
I love you!
Pastor Mike
STEPS TO PREPARE
PRAY FOR THE SERVICES AND FOR YOURSELF
AND ME AND THE OTHER TEACHERS.
PRAYERFULLY READ THE SCRIPTURES
AND CONSIDER THE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.
MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND A PREACHING SERVICE AND A SMALL GROUP.
INVITE SOMEONE TO COME WITH YOU.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY: SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Small Group Lesson:
1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Romans 12:3-8
The Gifts of the Spirit
Getting to Know Me: Do you know what your spiritual gift(s) is/are? If so, share it with the group and how you came to know that.
Into the Bible:
Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Why do you think that God gives the church such a variety of gifts as it mentions in verse 4?
It says in verse 7 that each person gets a spiritual gift. Why do you think God set it up this way instead of just gifting a few people?
Why isn’t that the way most churches practice?
How does this pattern of gifting every Christian bring about “the common good,” as it says in verse 7?
In verse 8, what do you think the following gifts mean: utterance of wisdom, utterance of knowledge?
In verse 9, what do you think the following gifts mean: gift of faith, gift of healing?
In verse 10, what do you think the following gifts mean: miracles, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking tongues, interpreting tongues?
Do you believe all these gifts still exist today? Why or why not? Use the Bible to defend your answer.
Read Romans 12:3-8
In the context of a passage about gifts, why does Paul feel the need to remind them in verse 3 that they ought not to think more highly of themselves than they should?
What does that mean?
What does it mean in verse 3 when it speaks of God assigning to people a certain “measure of faith”?
In verse 7, what do you think the following gifts mean: the gift of serving, the gift of teaching?
In verse 8, what do you think the following gifts mean: the gift of exhorting, the gift of contributing, the gift of leading, the gift of acts of mercy (compassion)?
What was one truth most significant for you from this lesson?
What most excites you about a discussion of the gifts of the Spirit?
What most troubles you about a discussion of the gifts of the Spirit?
What one thing can you do differently in your life based on this lesson about the spiritual gifts? In other words, how can you take a step toward discovering and using your gifts?
Spend some time praying for God to give each member of the group awareness of their spiritual gift and the courage to use it.
